Arsenal defender Ben White and Phil Foden clash in unseen footage

Arsenal defender Ben White appeared to grapple England team-mate Phil Foden at full-time of Manchester City’s 4-1 triumph over the Gunners during an animated row that left Erling Haaland’s blood boiling. The bizarre incident was not shown in full during BT Sport’s coverage of the match but unseen footage has now displayed exactly what happened before the prolific City frontman lost his temper with his opponent.

As the full-time whistle is blown, White approaches Foden from behind and puts his hands on his shoulder, spinning him around.

The former Brighton defender pinches Foden’s shirt on his back and talks to him in a confrontational manner.

White pulls the shirt upwards, collaring his compatriot before the pair exchange heated verbals.

But Foden stands his ground and is clearly not happy with the way he is being manhandled by White as he bows down his head and begins to push the defender backwards.

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By this point, Emile Smith Rowe and Bernardo Silva begin to intervene as the pair are separated.

Haaland then comes bounding over and explodes in fury at White for starting the incident which soured the one-sided title showdown.

Both sets of players then came to blows, although the majority were just looking to diffuse the situation.

The incident cast further doubt about White’s England prospects given this is a player he is meant to be sharing the dressing room with at international level.

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While it’s perfectly normal for international colleagues to come to blows at club level when the stakes are high, there appears to be genuine bad blood between Foden and White.

Both were part of England’s World Cup camp in Qatar when White was sent home due to ‘personal reasons’.

Reports had claimed White had struggled to integrate himself with some of his England team-mates while he is also said to have had a disagreement with England assistant coach Steve Holland.

Manchester City fan podcast ‘The Manchester is Blue Show’ labelled White an “utter coward” for antagonising Foden, posting on Twitter: “Ben White you utter coward going for the smallest man on the pitch.

“Didn’t try that with [John] Stones, Haaland or [Ruben] Dias did you.”

@FootyAwayDays posted: “Wonder what Ben White said to Foden?”

Manchester City’s victory means they are now just two points behind Arsenal while boasting two games in hand.

The Premier League champions are therefore in control of their own destiny and will retain the title if they take care of business professionally between now and the end of the campaign.

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